News that Kelvin Thomson will not recontest his Victorian seat of Wills at the next federal election is cause for lament, says environment group Sustainable Population Australia (SPA).

SPA national president, Sandra Kanck, says that the loss of Mr Thomson from the parliament will leave Australians with not a single MP who truly understands the negative impacts of continued population growth.

“Kelvin Thomson not only has an understanding of the issue, but has not been afraid to stand up against vested interests to make public statements decrying population impacts in his own electorate such as congestion, high unemployment and urban sprawl” Ms Kanck said.

“Following the 2013 federal election, Kelvin made the decision to not put up his hand for a shadow portfolio, preferring instead to devote his energies to establishing the organisation ‘Victoria First’, designed to directly address population issues in Victoria at a grass roots level.

The stories running now about who will contest the resulting preselection do not do justice to Kelvin’s contribution to the population debate.

“Both inside and outside the parliament Kelvin advanced a 14 point plan which would enable Australia to stabilise its population while remaining open and welcoming to asylum seekers and a modest numbers of immigrants.

“With Kelvin having had heart bypass surgery earlier this year, events have no doubt justifiably caused him to reflect on remaining in the parliament with all its pressures.

“SPA thanks him for all he has done. His departure will leave a gaping hole in Federal parliament’s intellectual base.”

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About Sustainable Population Australia: SPA is an independent not-for-profit organisation formed in 1988 to promote an understanding of the effects of human population numbers on the biosphere and society.